Factors associated with acute and chronic pain after inguinal herniorraphy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between types of anaesthesia, patients' demographic variables, preoperative emotional states and the prevalence of postoperative pain.

METHOD: In this randomized prospective study, postoperative pain was assessed in 100 patients, who were ASA (American Society of Anaesthesiologist) I-II and between 18-65 years old, undergoing inguinal herniorrhaphy with either general or spinal anaesthesia. In addition, postoperative pain compared with patients' demographic properties and psychological conditions in each group was also considered. Acute pain was evaluated at 1, 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24th hours with the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and chronic neuropathic pain was at 1, 2 and 3rd months with Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questions (DN4). All patients were treated with the same analgesics after operation.

RESULTS: Group spinal anaesthesia had lower acute pain at 1 and 2nd hours but they felt more severe pain at the 24th hour. Also patients' anxieties were correlated with acute and chronic postoperative pain. Ten patients complained about postoperative chronic pain after 3 months and there was no significant difference between groups.

CONCLUSION: Spinal anaesthesia decreased acute pain intensity at the first postoperative hours. Patients with anxiety felt high pain levels and they had an increased chronic pain prevalence.